Methods of blending off transmix into gasoline streams

ABSTRACT

Methods for blending transmix containing distillates such as diesel fuel into certified gasoline streams that can be burned in internal combustion engines without affecting the certification of the gasoline or the efficiency or operability of the engine.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods for blending off transmix intogasoline using controlled blending techniques. Methods have surprisinglybeen developed that allow transmix containing diesel and otherdistillate fuels to be blended into certified gasoline streams, that canbe burned in internal combustion engines without further modification,without affecting the certification of the gasoline or the efficiency oroperability of the engine.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Transmix is created when products of different specifications areshipped sequentially on a pipeline. The pipeline operator might ship avolume of distillate (aviation turbine fuel or Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel,etc.) followed by a volume of gasoline intended for automobiles. Whenthese two products meet in the pipeline at an interface, a quantity ofoff-specification product referred to as transmix is created. Because nomechanical buffer is used to prevent the two products from mixing andbecoming contaminated at this interface, the transmix does not meetapproved specifications for most fuel products and cannot be used incommerce without further processing.

In the United States, pipelines ship motor gasoline, diesel fuel, jetfuel, naphthas, LPG, diluent, butane, propane, pentane, and otherhydrocarbon products on the same clean pipeline. Both refineries andpetroleum terminals ship on these common carrier pipelines in varyingsizes or batches. A batch is the volume of a product shipped on thepipeline meeting a pre-defined set of product specifications. Thepipeline companies and various regulatory authorities publish productspecifications that shippers on the pipeline are required to meet beforeintroducing their products into the pipeline. The pipeline company mustensure that the products it eventually releases into commerce meet thesespecifications. Shippers must provide a certified analysis of productsthey introduce to the pipeline verifying that their products satisfy therelevant specifications.

All multi-product pipelines create a volume of transmix that is notmarketable for use in commerce. This transmix may be composed, forexample, of previously certified gasoline (including previouslycertified gasoline blendstocks that become commercial gasoline solelyupon the addition of an oxygenate), distillate fuel (such as diesel,aviation fuel, kerosene and heating oils), and other certified producttypes. Problems from the creation of transmix are particularly acutewhen diluents, ultra-low sulfur diesel, aviation turbine fuel, andgasoline are shipped next to each other.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) definesinterface and transmix in regulations at 40 C.F.R. 80.84, and prescribesprocesses that pipeline operators must follow to dispose of transmix.Transmix must typically be re-processed before it can once again bemarketed in commerce. The value of transmix is thus lower than thehydrocarbon products from which the transmix derives, and it is in thecommercial interest of pipelines and pipeline shippers to minimize thistransmix.

Presently, pipeline operators monitor the specific gravity, flash point,haze and color of batched products to determine when transmix is presentand when on-specification products are in the pipeline. Based on theirstandard operating procedures, the pipeline operator will direct thetransmix to a transmix storage tank when it reaches a particularjuncture on the pipeline, where it can be stored for eventual shipmentto a transmix processing plant. Once the transmix has been completelydiverted from the pipeline, and on-specification products are once againflowing past this juncture, the operator will resume the product flowthrough the pipeline and direct the on-specification product to othertanks in the tank farm for eventual distribution to customers and incommerce.

Transmix diverted from the pipeline is commonly processed either on-siteor off-site by separating the distillate fraction from the gasolinefraction, typically via distillation. The distillate fraction willcommonly include different types of distillate that the pipeline hascarried, and the gasoline fraction will commonly include different typesof gasoline that the pipeline has carried. Once separated, thesefractions are occasionally added back to tanks of distillate or gasolineat a tank farm. When these transmix fractions are added to a fuel tankthat has previously been certified for compliance with applicablespecifications, the product in the tank must often be recertified. Thisrecertification process includes several specifications, most especiallyfor sulfur, which can be introduced to the transmix pool by high-sulfurcontent fuels such as aviation fuel, fuel oils, or high sulfur diesel.Even though the sulfur in transmix pools derives principally fromdistillate streams, the sulfur can contaminate both distillate andgasoline fractions and thereby limit the amounts of transmix distillateand transmix gasoline that can be blended back into certified fuels. SeeRobbins et al., U.S. Publication 2020/0291316 A1 (published Sep. 17,2020).

Jones J. D. et al., Hydrocarbon Processing (May 2000 Issue) pp. 85-89,describes an integrated two tower process in which the first towerseparates transmix into diesel and gasoline fractions, and the secondtower separates the diesel into high sulfur and low sulfur fractions.The publication mentions that the transmix fractions can be blended intoon-specification products, but it does not give any detail on how suchblending would work.

EPA Regulatory Announcement 420-F-06-039 (May 2006), discusses qualityassurance requirements for transmix, particularly as they relate toRBOB, and notes that transmix is occasionally blended back into gasolinein very small percentages (<0.25%), at locations where it isinconvenient or too expensive to send the transmix to a processingfacility.

Thermo Scientific, SOLA® II Sulfur Online Analyzer (accessed athttps://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/LSG/Specification-Sheets/D10617˜.pdfon Jan. 17, 2018), discloses the SOLA® II Sulfur Online Analyzer, andstates that the analyzer “enables petroleum refiners to make timelyprocess adjustments to enhance the economic efficiency ofdesulfurization and fuel blending operations.”

X-Ray Optical Systems, Sindie® On-Line Sulfur Analyzer (accessed athttps://www.bartec.de/ProdCatalogue/Assets/Datasheets/lng_0/Sindie_E.pdfon Jan. 17, 2018), discloses the Sindie® On-Line Sulfur Analyzer andstates that the analyzer is useful for “Pipeline terminals: interfacecuts and tank contamination prevention,” including “Continuousmonitoring with programmable response times: −10 seconds: ideal forpipeline interface cuts.”

Jiskoot Quality Systems, In Line Blending Systems (accessed athttp://www.jiskoot.com/files/1114/1691/7164/BB001_In_Line_Blending.pdfon Jan. 17, 2018), discloses: “Diesel blending: Higher specification,lower cost diesel can be produced by in-line blending. Blenders can bedesigned to take major components directly from process units tominimize intermediate tank storage. Using analyzers for Sulphur and theblended diesel can be produced to an exact environmental specification.”

Jiskoot Quality Systems, Ratio Blending Calculator (accessed athttp://www.jiskoot.com/services/calculations/ratio-blending-index/ onJan. 17, 2018), discloses: “This on-line calculator, which is designedfor blending two liquid hydrocarbons, will assist you to develop theoptimal blend ratio and specification for your application. It willcalculate the blend ratio (volume or mass) required to achieve targetblend density, viscosity or sulphur parameters based on componentspecifications.”

Mattingly et al., WO 2007/124058 (published Nov. 1, 2007), disclosesversatile systems for continuous blending of butane into petroleumstreams, and further discloses a sulfur sampling and monitoring unitthat ensures that the supply of butane does not exceed specifiedlimitations for sulfur in butane that is blended into gasoline. Thesampling unit “removes samples of butane from the butane supply linepreferably at least once every 500,000 gallons, and the sulfur contentof the samples is determined either offline in a laboratory, or in-lineusing an automated sulfur monitor that allows the butane is returned tothe butane supply line after testing.”

What is needed are methods and systems for recycling transmix back intocommercial fuel streams without causing the commercial fuel streams toviolate pre-specified limits on applicable physical properties. Ideally,the methods and systems could be performed continuously, and therecipient commercial fuel stream could be continuously certifiedpost-blending to confirm the fuel stream meets applicable standards andspecifications.

Accordingly, it is an object of the current invention is to blendtransmix, even transmix contaminated by diesel fuel, into commercialgasoline streams, in a manner that does not compromise the performanceof the resulting gasoline.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

After intensive research and investigation, the inventors have developedversatile systems and methods for blending transmix contaminated bydistillate into gasoline streams that comply with applicable ASTMstandards and industry specifications, before and after the blending.

Thus, in a first principal embodiment, the invention provides a systemfor blending off distillate transmix into a gasoline stream withoutviolating a physical property limit on the gasoline comprising: (a) agasoline stream comprising a gasoline flow rate; (b) a transmix streamin fluid communication with the gasoline stream comprising distillateand a transmix flow rate; (c) a blended stream comprising a combinationof the transmix stream and the gasoline stream comprising a blended flowrate, a blended value for the physical property, and distillate; (d) anIPU on which is stored the physical property limit, programmed tocalculate a ratio or rate at which the transmix stream can be added tothe gasoline stream based on the physical property limit and a measuredvalue for the physical property of the blended stream; (e) a sampler anda physical property analyzer at a sampling point on the blended streamin electronic communication with the IPU, electronically configured towithdraw samples from the blended stream, measure the physical propertyof the blended stream, and transmit or make accessible the measuredphysical property to the IPU; and (f) a flow regulator interposedbetween the transmix and gasoline streams, in electronic communicationwith the IPU, electronically configured to receive or access the rate orratio from the IPU and adjust the transmix flow rate without exceedingthe rate or ratio.

In a second principal embodiment the invention provides a method forblending off distillate transmix into a gasoline stream to produce ablended stream without violating a pre-determined limit on a physicalproperty on the gasoline stream comprising: (a) withdrawing samplesperiodically from the blended stream, measuring the physical property ofthe blended stream by an analyzer, and transmitting or making accessiblevia electronic communication the physical property measurement to anIPU; (b) calculating on the IPU a ratio or rate at which the transmixstream can be added to the gasoline stream based on the physicalproperty limit and the physical property measurement of the blendedstream; and (c) communicating the ratio or rate to a flow regulator, andadjusting a rate of flow of the transmix stream through the flowregulator into the gasoline stream without exceeding the rate or ratio.

Additional advantages of the invention are set forth in part in thedescription that follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theadvantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means ofthe elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of the disclosed embodiments isconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan layout of a petroleum tank farm suitable for blendingtransmix contaminated with distillate into certified gasoline streams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Definitions and Use of Terms

Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. Thedisclosures of these publications in their entireties are herebyincorporated by reference into this application in order to more fullydescribe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Thereferences disclosed are also individually and specifically incorporatedby reference herein for the material contained in them that is discussedin the sentence in which the reference is relied upon.

As used in the specification and claims, the singular forms a, an, andthe include plural references unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. For example, the term “a specification” refers to one or morespecifications for use in the presently disclosed methods and systems.“A hydrocarbon” includes mixtures of two or more such hydrocarbons, andthe like. The word “or” or like terms as used herein means any onemember of a particular list and also includes any combination of membersof that list.

As used in this specification and in the claims which follow, the word“comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and“comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intendedto exclude, for example, other additives, components, integers or steps.When an element is described as comprising one or a plurality ofcomponents, steps or conditions, it will be understood that the elementcan also be described as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of”the component, step or condition, or the plurality of components, stepsor conditions.

When used herein the term “about” will compensate for variabilityallowed for in the petroleum industry and inherent in hydrocarbonproducts. Whenever the term “about is used, it will be understood thatthe tem can be substituted in alternative embodiments by 5% or 10% toallow for any variation within 5% or 10% of the recited specification orstandard.

When percentages, concentrations or other units of measure are givenherein, it will be understood that the units of measure are weightpercent unless otherwise stated to the contrary.

When flow rates are expressed herein, or relative flow rates such aspercent additions are expressed herein, it will be understood that theflow rate is a volumetric flow rate unless otherwise stated.

When ranges are expressed herein by specifying alternative upper andlower limits of the range, it will be understood that the endpoints canbe combined in any manner that is mathematically feasible. Thus, forexample, a range of from 50 or 80 to 100 or 70 can alternatively beexpressed as a series of ranges of from 50 to 100, from 50 to 70, andfrom 80 to 100. When a series of upper bounds and lower bounds arerelated using the phase “and” or “or”, it will be understood that theupper bounds can be unlimited by the lower bounds or combined with thelower bounds, and vice versa. Thus, for example, a range of greater than40% and/or less than 80% includes ranges of greater than 40%, less than80%, and greater than 40% but less than 80%.

When an element of a process or thing is defined by reference to one ormore examples, components, properties or characteristics, it will beunderstood that any one or combination of those components, propertiesor characteristics can also be used to define the subject matter atissue. This might occur, for example, when specific examples of anelement are recited in a claim (as in a Markush grouping), or an elementis defined by a plurality of characteristics. Thus, for example, if aclaimed system comprises element A defined by elements A1, A2 and A3, incombination with element B defined by elements B1, B2 and B3, theinvention will also be understood to cover a system defined by element Awithout element B, a system in which element A is defined by elements A1and A2 in combination with element B defined by elements B2 and B3, andall other possible permutations.

“ASTM” refers to the American Society for Testing and Materials.Whenever a petroleum subtype is referenced herein, it will be understoodthat the subtype is defined by its normally accepted meaning, and thatit can also be more specifically defined by specifications and testingmethods prescribed by ASTM in its various publications. Thus, forexample, aviation turbine fuel can be defined with reference to ASTM1655-15de1, and diesel fuels can be defined with reference to ASTMD975-15c. When a product is defined by an ASTM standard for a particularpetroleum subtype, it will be understood that the product need not havebeen tested according to the ASTM standard to satisfy the standard.Unless otherwise indicated, when reference is made to an ASTM standardherein, it is made in reference to the ASTM standard in effect on Jan.1, 2022, and the ASTM standard is incorporated herein by reference.

The term “distillate” as used herein refers to those fuels commonlyreferred to as “middle distillates” in the petroleum industry. “Middledistillates” is a term commonly assigned to petroleum products obtainedin the “middle” boiling range from about 180° C.-360° C. during theprocess of crude oil distillation. They are also called middledistillates because the products are removed at mid-height in thedistillation tower during the multi-stage process of thermal separation.A middle distillate is typically a clear, colorless to light yellow,combustible liquid. It typically has between eleven and eighteen carbonatoms, a density of not more than 0.876 kg/1 at 15° C., and a flashpointabove 38° C. Middle distillates primarily include diesel fuel, marinefuels, aviation turbine fuel, non-aviation turbine fuel, heating oil,and kerosene. In all cases where the term is used, a distillate stream,or a type of distillate stream such as a diesel stream, refers to astream of distillate transmitted through a common carrier petroleumpipeline, that satisfies the specifications imposed by the commoncarrier and applicable to common carriage.

The term “distillate transmix” refers to any transmix that contains bothgasoline and transmix and is contaminated by distillate at any of thedistillate percentages recited herein.

“Diesel fuel” and “finished diesel fuel” are used synonymously herein,and refer to a petroleum-derived liquid fuel used in diesel engines,whose fuel ignition takes place without any spark as a result ofcompression of the inlet air mixture and injection of fuel. Diesel fuelis a mixture of hydrocarbons with boiling points typically in the rangeof 200 to 380° C. Diesel fuel utilized in the present inventionpreferably satisfies the testing requirements specified in ASTM D975.“Ultra-low sulfur diesel” refers to diesel having a sulfur content lessthan 15 ppm. “Low sulfur diesel” refers to diesel having a sulfurcontent less than 500 ppm.

“Finished gasoline” and “finished motor gasoline” are used synonymously,and refer to gasoline that is suitable for burning in spark-ignitionvehicles without further modifications. Finished gasoline will typicallysatisfy ASTM Specification D 4814 or Federal Specification VV-G-1690C,and is characterized as having a boiling range of 122 to 158 degreesFahrenheit at the 10 percent recovery point to 365 to 374 degreesFahrenheit at the 90 percent recovery point.

“Gasoline” and “motor gasoline” are used synonymously. Gasoline is acomplex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons with or withoutsmall quantities of additives, blended to form a fuel suitable for usein spark-ignition engines. The term includes finished gasoline, as wellas fuels that are intended to be mixed with oxygenates such as ethanoland MTBE. Gasoline thus includes conventional gasoline; oxygenatedgasoline such as gasohol; reformulated gasoline; reformulated blendstockfor oxygenate blending; conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending;and aviation gasoline. In all cases, the gasoline is downstream of apetroleum refinery and satisfies specifications imposed by pipelinecarriers of commercial fuels.

“Conventional Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending” or “CBOB” means motorgasoline blending components intended for blending with oxygenates toproduce finished conventional motor gasoline.

“Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending” or “RBOB” refers tomotor gasoline blending components intended for blending with oxygenatesto produce finished reformulated motor gasoline.

“Premium Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending” or “PBOB” refers to motorgasoline blending components intended for blending with oxygenates toproduce premium finished reformulated motor gasoline.

“Conventional Gasoline” means finished motor gasoline not included inthe oxygenated or reformulated gasoline categories. The term thusexcludes RFG, RBOB, CBOB, and blendstocks.

“Reformulated Gasoline (RFG)” refers to finished gasoline formulated foruse in motor vehicles, the composition and properties of which meet therequirements of the reformulated gasoline regulations promulgated by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 211(k) of the U.S.Clean Air Act and in effect on Jan. 1, 2019. Reformulated gasolineexcludes Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (RBOB).

“Aviation Gasoline,” or “Avgas” is a complex mixture of relativelyvolatile hydrocarbons with or without small quantities of additives,blended to form a fuel suitable for use in aviation spark-ignitionengines. Avgas comes in several grades, all manufactured to an ASTMstandard (D910), with specific physical properties and specificpermitted and required additives (such as Tetra-Ethyl Lead—TEL).

“Fluid communication” refers to the linkage of a pipe to a source of afluid at the same facility. Optionally the linkage may be through achannel that can be closed or whose flow may be modulated as by a valve.The linkage may be by any of the following: a door or window on the sideof the pipeline; a branching pipe in the pipeline; aninjection-facilitating fixture in a joint of the pipeline; a smallersecondary pipe that extends into the interior of the pipeline; or anyother means that permits a fluid to flow into the pipeline. Optionallythe flow may be constant, variable, or intermittent. Thus, a firststream that is separate from a transmix stream by a storage tank at thesame facility would still be considered to be in fluid communicationwith the first stream. In certain preferred embodiments of the inventionthe fluid flow into the pipe by means of this linkage is capable ofbeing modulated or stopped.

“Tank farm” means any facility that contains a number of large storagetanks for petroleum products, one or more pipelines originating off-sitefor delivering petroleum products to the tank farm, and typicallyincluding loading racks from which tanker trucks can be filled. Themethods and systems of the current invention will commonly occur at atank farm. A tank farm of the present invention will be downstream of apetroleum refinery.

“Informational database” or “IDB” refers to a data storing system whichcan receive, store and output data. The informational databasecommunicates with or is accessible to other informational database(s),IPU(s), component(s), system(s) and device(s) encompassed by the methodsand systems of the present invention. When an IDB is modified by theterm “an,” it will be understood that the invention contemplates thatone or more IDB's may perform the function described for the IDB. Inlike manner, when text refers to two or more IDBs for performingdistinct functions, without specifically stating that the IDBs aredifferent, it will be understood that the two or more IDBs can be thesame or different.

“Information processing unit” and “IPU” means a computational unit thatis useful for at least one of accessing, receiving, processing,distributing and storing data. The IPU may receive data either passivelyor by affirmatively soliciting or searching for data on a separateinformation system. When an IPU is modified by the term “an,” it will beunderstood that the invention contemplates that one or more IPU's mayperform the function described for the IPU; that the same IPU canperform more than one of the functions described for IPUs in therelevant text; and that the functions described for IPUs in the relevanttext can be distributed among multiple IPUs. Thus, when text refers totwo or more IPUs for performing distinct functions, without specificallystating that the IPUs are different, it will be understood that the twoor more IPUs can be the same or different.

When data or a signal is referred to herein as being transmitted betweentwo IPUs or an IPU and an information database, or other words of likeimport such as “communicated” or “delivered” are used, it will beunderstood that the transmission can be indirect, as when anintermediate IPU receives and forwards the signal or data. It will alsobe understood that the transmission can be passive or active.

“Obtaining” data or other information means acquiring such information.In some embodiments information is obtained by making physicalmeasurements. In other embodiments information is obtained by receivingmeasurement data from a separate source.

Discussion of Principal Embodiments

The invention can be defined based on several principal embodimentswhich can be combined in any manner physically and mathematicallypossible to create additional principal embodiments. In a firstprincipal embodiment, the invention provides a system for blending offdistillate transmix into a gasoline stream without violating a physicalproperty limit on the gasoline comprising: (a) a gasoline streamcomprising a gasoline flow rate; (b) a transmix stream in fluidcommunication with the gasoline stream comprising distillate and atransmix flow rate; (c) a blended stream comprising a combination of thetransmix stream and the gasoline stream comprising a blended flow rate,a blended value for the physical property, and distillate; (d) an IPU onwhich is stored the physical property limit, programmed to calculate aratio or rate at which the transmix stream can be added to the gasolinestream based on the physical property limit and a measured value for thephysical property of the blended stream; (e) a sampler and a physicalproperty analyzer at a sampling point on the blended stream inelectronic communication with the IPU, electronically configured towithdraw samples from the blended stream, measure the physical propertyof the blended stream, and transmit or make accessible the measuredphysical property to the IPU; and (f) a flow regulator interposedbetween the transmix and gasoline streams, in electronic communicationwith the IPU, electronically configured to receive or access the rate orratio from the IPU and adjust the transmix flow rate without exceedingthe rate or ratio.

In a second principal embodiment the invention provides a method forblending off distillate transmix into a gasoline stream to produce ablended stream without violating a pre-determined limit on a physicalproperty on the gasoline stream comprising: (a) withdrawing samplesperiodically from the blended stream, measuring the physical property ofthe blended stream by an analyzer, and transmitting or making accessiblevia electronic communication the physical property measurement to anIPU; (b) calculating on the IPU a ratio or rate at which the transmixstream can be added to the gasoline stream based on the physicalproperty limit and the physical property measurement of the blendedstream; and (c) communicating the ratio or rate to a flow regulator, andadjusting a rate of flow of the transmix stream through the flowregulator into the gasoline stream without exceeding the rate or ratio.

Discussion of Subembodiments

The invention can further be understood with reference to varioussubembodiments which can modify any of the principal embodiments. Itwill be understood that these subembodiments can be combined in anymanner that is both mathematically and physically possible to createadditional subembodiments, which in turn can modify any of the principalembodiments. It will also be understood that any of the features of themethods of the present invention apply equally to the systems of thepresent invention, and vice versa. However, certain verbiage can beemployed in the description of the systems of the present invention,which is more appropriate when defining a system.

In any of the embodiments of the present invention, the physicalproperty used to control the rate of blending into gasoline streams areselected from octane, distillation temperature, Reid vapor pressure,sulfur concentration, and combinations thereof. In a particularlypreferred embodiment, physical property limits are established for allfour physical properties, and the rate of blending is controlled toprevent violation of any of the four limits. In another particularlypreferred embodiment, chemometrics (as discussed further below) are usedto measure one or more of the physical properties, often using onechemometric dataset for more than one of the physical properties thatare controlling the blending.

A particular advantage of the invention is the ability to blend largepercentages of transmix into gasoline, even when that transmix iscontaminated by a significant percentage of distillate, withoutaffecting the efficiency or performance of the vehicle in which the fuelis eventually burned or the certification of the gasoline into which thetransmix is blended. The transmix is preferably contaminated by adistillate selected from diesel fuel, marine fuel, aviation turbinefuel, non-aviation turbine fuel, heating oil, kerosene, and combinationsthereof, most preferably diesel fuel in the percentages expressedherein.

In any of the embodiments of the present invention:

-   -   the transmix stream can comprise greater than 10% distillate;        and the transmix can be blended into the gasoline stream at a        rate equal to or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%, and        typically less than 10%, or 5%.    -   the transmix stream can comprise greater than 20% distillate;        and the transmix can be blended into the gasoline stream at a        rate equal to or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%, and        typically less than 10%, or 5%.    -   the transmix stream can comprise greater than 35% distillate;        and the transmix can be blended into the gasoline stream at a        rate equal to or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%, and        typically less than 10%, or 5%.    -   the transmix stream can comprise greater than 50% distillate;        and the transmix can be blended into the gasoline stream at a        rate equal to or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%, and        typically less than 10%, or 5%.    -   the transmix stream can comprise greater than 5%, 10%, 20%, 35%,        50%, or 80% distillate.    -   the transmix stream can preferably comprise greater than 50%        distillate.    -   the transmix can be blended into the gasoline stream at a rate        equal to or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%.    -   the transmix can preferably blended into the gasoline stream at        a rate equal to or greater than 0.5%.

The blending can occur along a variable fuel transmission pipe (a/k/amulti-product common carrier pipeline) that transmits a plurality ofdifferent petroleum types, including gasoline (regular and premium),diesel fuel (various grades), heating oil, and/or aviation fuel.Alternatively, the blending can occur inside a pipe that is dedicated tothe transmission of a particular fuel type. In one embodiment, theblending occurs in a circulatory loop, in a pipe that exits and returnsto the same petroleum tank.

In a preferred embodiment, the system will be installed on a pipelinethat transmits multiple batches of different fuel types. Blending willoccur into gasoline streams but stopped when blend prohibited streamsare passing the blend point. Generally any non-gasoline stream definedherein will trigger a stop blend signal, but certified diesel streamsand ultra-low sulfur diesel streams are particularly to be avoided.Thus, the methods will commonly be employed to blend into multiplegasoline types, and the gasoline stream will comprise a plurality ofbatches selected from the group consisting of regular finished gasoline,premium finished gasoline, conventional blendstock for oxygenateblending, reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending, premiumblendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulated gasoline, and aviationgasoline.

The flow rate of the gasoline stream can remain unchanged over time orit can vary. When the rate varies, measurements will preferably be takenof the gasoline stream flow rate (or, by proxy, the blended stream rate)in real time, and the transmix addition rate calculated based on theactual flow rate of the gasoline stream.

The rate at which the transmix is added to the gasoline stream ispreferably determined by the relative pressures of the gasoline andtransmix at the flow regulator, with the transmix pressure higher thanthe gasoline pressure. The pressure of the transmix is preferably underthe control of a coordinated pump and valve system, as depicted ingreater detail in the figures hereto.

Some subembodiments are directed toward the location at which thesamples are returned to the system. Thus, in one subembodiment, themethods of the present invention comprise returning the samples to thegasoline upstream of the gasoline sampling point, and the systemscomprise piping configured to accomplish this return.

The transmix will commonly comprise middle distillates selected fromdiesel fuel, marine fuels, aviation turbine fuel, non-aviation turbinefuel, heating oil, and kerosene, and gasolines selected fromconventional gasoline, oxygenated gasoline, reformulated gasoline,reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending, conventional blendstockfor oxygenate blending, and aviation gasoline. Most commonly thetransmix will comprise a combination of gasoline subtypes and acombination of distillate subtypes. The transmix might also comprisesubgrade gasoline, diluent, propane, pentane, butane, and combinationsthereof. In various subembodiments, the transmix will comprise greaterthan 20, 50, 100, 250, or even 500 ppm sulfur.

In the systems and methods of the current invention, the transmix willtypically have a sulfur concentration greater than the sulfurconcentration of the gasoline stream. The sulfur concentration in thetransmix can in various embodiments be more than 110%, 120%, 150%, 250%,500%, 1,000%, 2,500%, or even 5,000% of the sulfur concentration of thegasoline stream into which the transmix is blended. The transmix can invarious embodiments be blended into the gasoline stream at rates greaterthan 0.2%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 5%, of the flow rate of the gasolinestream, typically less than 10% or 5% of the flow rate of the gasolinestream.

The systems are particularly versatile, and allow transmix thatcomprises different types of petroleum within the same range of boilingpoints to be blended into a single stream type. Thus, transmix can beblended into a gasoline stream even though the transmix might comprisemarine fuel, aviation turbine fuel, non-aviation turbine fuel, heatingoil, kerosene, or a combination thereof, and the transmix might comprisemore than 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, or even 5,000 ppm sulfur.

In like manner distillate transmix including two or more types ofgasoline might be blended into a gasoline stream. Thus, for example,distillate transmix comprising two or more types of gasoline selectedfrom conventional gasoline, oxygenated gasoline, RFG, RBOB, CBOB, andaviation gasoline, can be blended into a gasoline stream selected fromconventional gasoline, oxygenated gasoline, RFG, RBOB, CBOB, andaviation gasoline.

The sampler is typically located on the blended fuel stream after thetransmix has been blended with the gasoline stream downstream of theflow regulator, in what is known as a feedback control system. When aplurality of physical property limits are imposed on the blendedgasoline stream, and all are at risk of being violated, the blended fuelwill typically be measured for each of the physical properties, theamount of transmix which can be added without violating the physicalproperties will be calculated for each of the physical properties, andthe lowest rate calculated will be used as the maximum rate of additionfor the transmix stream. Methods for determining the rate at whichtransmix can be added to a gasoline stream without violating pre-setphysical properties are well known in the art and described, forexample, in WO 2020/185837 A1 to Robbins et al, and U.S. Pat. No.8,176,951 B1 to Mattingly et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 9,080,111 B1 to Huffet al. The method does not need to be perfect because, if the physicalproperty is slightly exceeded by the increased addition, it will bequickly corrected during the next round of physical propertymeasurements. For this reason, volumetric averaging can be the simplestand most practical technique for making such determinations.

Downstream monitoring is also well adapted to the generation of recordswhich document the rate of addition or amount of sulfur in the blendedstream, or other physical properties of the gasoline streampost-blending. Thus, in one subembodiment the systems and methodsfurther comprise measuring an actual downstream sulfur content or otherphysical property in the blended stream, associating in an informationdatabase the resulting actual downstream sulfur content or otherphysical property with a time point to provide associated temporal data;recording the associated temporal data in an informational database; andperiodically repeating the process. In one particular subembodiment, thetime point is received in the information database from an externalsource.

One or more of these physical properties can be monitored, depending onthe type of petroleum, preferably at a frequency of at least every 10minutes, five minutes, 60 seconds, 30 seconds, 15 seconds, or 10seconds, and regardless of the physical property being monitored. Thehydrocarbon is preferably analyzed by: (a) withdrawing a sample of thehydrocarbon from the stream; (b) transmitting the sample to an analyzingunit; and (c) either returning the sample to system, or transmitting thesample to a separate storage unit.

Near Infra-Red (NIR) Spectroscopy

NIR spectroscopy is an everyday tool used by the oil and gas industry.NIR does not require any specific sample preparation, requires shortacquisition time, and allows performing an online measurement in anon-intrusive way. This is critical for the oil and gas industry sincethe product, as crude oil or refined fuel, remains almost its entirelifetime in pipelines.

To perform an NIR online measurement there are two possibilities. Eitheran immersion probe or a flow cell is used. Immersion probes are mostwidely used for Fourier transform near infrared (FT-NIR) measurements inprocess control and can work in a transmission mode or a reflectiondepending on the transmittance of the sample. For crude oil, reflectancewill be typically used, while, for refined fuels, transmission can bethe most appropriate. Besides immersion probes, flow cells are widelyused. In this case, the sample flows directly through the cell where thespectrum is measured and measurement is done exclusively in transmissionmode. Typically, a flow cell probe allows one to acquire the spectra ofa fluid flowing in a pipeline at a high pressure, while the immersionprobe is designed to measure at pressures close to atmospheric.

A large number of properties are measured with NIR spectroscopy thesedays at refineries with the final goal of ensuring quality or optimizingthe production process. Those properties include, without limitation,RON (research octane number), MON (motor octane number), cetane index, %aromatics, % olefins, % benzene and % oxygenates, to RVP (Reid vaporpressure), D10%, D50%, D90%, Pour Point, Cloud Point, and Cold FilterPlugging Point or E170. Suitable NIR analyzers are the OMA 300 byApplied Analytical, having a spectral range of 400-1100 nm, ANALECT®PCM™ Series by Applied Instrument Technologies, having a spectral rangeof 833-8333 nm, the HP260X by ABB, having a spectral range of 714-2630nm, the XDS Process Analytics™ by FOSS NIR Systems Inc., having aspectral range of 800-2200 nm, and the PetroScan™ by Light TechnologyIndustries, Inc., having a spectral range of 1200-2400 nm.

Chemometrics

“Chemometrics” is a term applied to the generic discipline containingcomputers and mathematics to derive meaningful chemical information fromsamples of varying complexity (Workman, J. J., Jr (2008) NIRspectroscopy calibration basic. In: Burns, D. A. and Ciurczak, E. W.(eds), Handbook of Near-Infrared Analysis, 3rd edn. CRC Press, BocaRaton, FL). In chemometrics, a computer is tasked with interpreting NIRspectra from a plurality of samples using a variety of multivariatemathematical techniques. These techniques are used to produce amathematical calibration model.

In routine NIR analysis, the spectra should be pretreated to enhanceinformative signals of the interested components and reduceuninformative signals as much as possible (Pantoja P A et al.,Application of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to the Characterization ofPetroleum, in Analytical Characterization Methods for Crude Oil andRelated Products, First Edition. Edited by Ashutosh K. Shukla. Published2018 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.). Smoothing, multiplicative scattercorrection, mean centering, and Savitzky-Golay derivation are commonlyapplied to pretreat the spectra before modeling in order to remove thescattering effect created by diffuse reflectance and to decreasebaseline shift, overlapping peak, and other detrimental effects on thesignal-to-noise ratio (Boysworth, M. K. and Booksh, K. S. (2008) Aspectsof multivariate calibration applied to near-infrared spectroscopy. In:Burns, D. A. and Ciurczak, E. W. (eds), Handbook of Near-InfraredAnalysis, 3rd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.).

NIR spectra are ultimately calibrated to relate the observed spectra, ina predictive manner, to a property of interest. With calibration it ispossible to predict relevant physicochemical properties of an unknownhydrocarbon that compare accurately with reference information on theseproperties. In the process of this invention, the reference informationis generated from pipeline samples taken simultaneously with spectralinformation on the pipeline to generate a chemometric dataset. The maincalibration methods, as described by Lopez-Gejo et al., 2008, includeprincipal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS)regression, and artificial neural networks (ANNs) (Lopez-Gejo, J.,Pantoja, P. A., Falla, F. S., et al. (2008) Electronical and vibrationalspectroscopy. In: Petroleum Science Research Progress, Publisher, Inc.,187-233).

Thus, in other methods and systems of the present invention, thedistillation value for said physical property is obtained by generatinga spectral response of said blended gasoline stream using absorptionspectroscopy with a near infrared analyzer, and comparing said spectralresponse to a chemometric dataset specific for said physical property insaid blended stream.

In other methods and systems of the present invention, the octane valuefor said physical property is obtained by generating a spectral responseof said blended gasoline stream using absorption spectroscopy with anear infrared analyzer, and comparing said spectral response to achemometric dataset specific for said physical property in said blendedstream.

In other methods and systems of the present invention, the Reed vaporpressure value for said physical property is obtained by generating aspectral response of said blended gasoline stream using absorptionspectroscopy with a near infrared analyzer, and comparing said spectralresponse to a chemometric dataset specific for said physical property insaid blended stream.

In still further methods and systems of the present invention, thechemometric dataset is built by taking two or more samples of a blendedstream; measuring said physical property of the samples offline;simultaneously with taking the two or more samples, obtaining a spectralresponse of the blended gasoline in the pipeline using absorptionspectroscopy with a near infrared analyzer; and correlating the spectralresponse with the measured physical property of the samples.

Discussion of Depicted Embodiments

Reference is made to FIG. 1 for a fuller understanding of the presentinvention. FIG. 1 is a plan layout of a petroleum tank farm/distributionfacility that has installed a transmix recycling system 1 of the presentinvention for blending distillate transmix into gasoline.

Transmix recycling system 1 includes a transmix storage tank 2 wherequantities of distillate transmix generated at the tank farm are stored.During operation, transmix is withdrawn from transmix storage tank 2through transmix line 3, under the urging of a pump 4, before enteringinjection skid 5. At injection skid 5, the rate of transmix flow isgoverned by flow regulator 6 from which the transmix is ultimatelyinjected or discharged into gasoline stream 7 at injection/dischargepoint 8.

Gasoline stream 7 will comprise a certified fuel stream that meetsapplicable ASTM standards. Gasoline stream 7 might originate on-sitefrom another tank not shown in FIG. 1 or an off-site pipeline. Thestream can carry any type of gasoline as defined in this document,including conventional gasoline, reformulated gasoline, CBOB, and RBOB,and will commonly carry multiple batches of different gasoline types.

The gasoline becomes a blended gasoline stream 9 after the distillateinjection/discharge point 8. The blended gasoline stream is sampled andmeasured for relevant physical properties. In FIG. 1 , the blendedgasoline stream is periodically sampled and analyzed using a productfast loop 10 that circulates blended gasoline samples from and toblended gasoline line 9, and to and from dual sample conditioner panel12 in analyzer building 11. Samples of blended gasoline are periodicallyforwarded from conditioner panel 12 to one or more analyzers throughlines 12a and 12b for measuring the physical properties of the blendedstream.

Two analyzers (13 and 14) are illustrated in FIG. 1 , which preferablymeasure two or more physical properties selected from sulfurconcentration, RVP, distillation temperature, and octane. It will beunderstood that more analyzers can be used depending on the capabilityof the analyzer and the number of physical properties tested. Fromanalyzers 13 and 14, the samples are discharged into lines 13a and 14a,respectively, and subsequently recombined in stream 15, stored in samplerecovery tank 16, and subsequently added back to blended gasoline stream9, preferably when blended gasoline stream 9 comprises gasoline and evenmore preferably when blended gasoline stream 9 comprises the same typeof gasoline as the samples.

Other Embodiments

-   -   [Embodiment 1] A system for blending off distillate transmix        into a gasoline stream without violating a physical property        limit on the gasoline comprising:    -   a) a gasoline stream comprising a gasoline flow rate;    -   b) a transmix stream in fluid communication with the gasoline        stream comprising distillate and a transmix flow rate;    -   c) a blended stream comprising a combination of the transmix        stream and the gasoline stream comprising a blended flow rate, a        blended value for the physical property, and distillate;    -   d) an IPU on which is stored the physical property limit,        programmed to calculate a ratio or rate at which the transmix        stream can be added to the gasoline stream based on the physical        property limit and a measured value for the physical property of        the blended stream;    -   e) a sampler and a physical property analyzer at a sampling        point on the blended stream in electronic communication with the        IPU, electronically configured to withdraw samples from the        blended stream, measure the physical property of the blended        stream, and transmit or make accessible the measured physical        property to the IPU; and    -   f) a flow regulator interposed between the transmix and gasoline        streams, in electronic communication with the IPU,        electronically configured to receive or access the rate or ratio        from the IPU and adjust the transmix flow rate without exceeding        the rate or ratio.    -   [Embodiment 2] The system of embodiment 1, wherein the gasoline        stream comprises a plurality of batches selected from the group        consisting of regular finished gasoline, premium finished        gasoline, conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending,        reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending, premium        blendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulated gasoline, and        aviation gasoline.    -   [Embodiment 3] The system of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the        gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches of gasoline        periodically separated by one or more batches of distillate.    -   [Embodiment 4] The system of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the        gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches of gasoline        periodically separated by one or more batches of distillate,        further comprising programming that causes blending to cease        when distillate is passing the flow regulator.    -   [Embodiment 5] The system of any of embodiments 1-4, wherein the        transmix stream comprises greater than 5%, 10%, 20%, 35%, 50%,        or 80% distillate.    -   [Embodiment 6] The system of any of embodiments 1-5, wherein the        transmix stream comprises greater than 50% distillate.    -   [Embodiment 7] The system of any of embodiments 1-6, wherein the        transmix is blended into the gasoline stream at a rate equal to        or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%.    -   [Embodiment 8] The system of any of embodiments 1-7, wherein the        transmix is blended into the gasoline stream at a rate equal to        or greater than 0.5%.    -   [Embodiment 9] The system of any of embodiments 1-8, wherein the        distillate is selected from diesel fuel, marine fuel, aviation        turbine fuel, non-aviation turbine fuel, heating oil, kerosene,        and combinations thereof.    -   [Embodiment 10] The system of any of embodiments 1-9, wherein        the physical property is selected from octane, distillation        temperature, Reid vapor pressure, sulfur concentration, and        combinations thereof    -   [Embodiment 11] The system of any of embodiments 1-10, wherein        the physical property comprises a combination of octane,        distillation temperature, Reid vapor pressure, and sulfur        concentration.    -   [Embodiment 12] The system of any of embodiments 1-11, wherein        said physical property is obtained by generating a spectral        response of said gasoline stream, blended stream, and/or        transmix stream using absorption spectroscopy with a near        infrared analyzer, and comparing said spectral response to a        chemometric dataset specific for said physical property in said        gasoline stream, blended stream, and/or transmix stream.    -   [Embodiment 13] A method for blending off distillate transmix        into a gasoline stream to produce a blended stream without        violating a pre-determined limit on a physical property on the        gasoline stream comprising:    -   a) withdrawing samples periodically from the blended stream,        measuring the physical property of the blended stream by an        analyzer, and transmitting or making accessible via electronic        communication the physical property measurement to an IPU;    -   b) calculating on the IPU a ratio or rate at which the        distillate transmix can be added to the gasoline stream based on        the physical property limit and the physical property        measurement of the blended stream; and    -   c) communicating the ratio or rate to a flow regulator, and        adjusting a rate of flow of the distillate transmix through the        flow regulator into the gasoline stream without exceeding the        rate or ratio.    -   [Embodiment 14] The method of embodiment 13, wherein the        gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches selected from        the group consisting of regular finished gasoline, premium        finished gasoline, conventional blendstock for oxygenate        blending, reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending,        premium blendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulated        gasoline, and aviation gasoline.    -   [Embodiment 15] The method of embodiment 13 or 14, wherein the        gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches of gasoline        periodically separated by one or more batches of distillate.    -   [Embodiment 16] The method of embodiment 13 or 14, wherein the        gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches of gasoline        periodically separated by one or more batches of distillate,        further comprising ceasing blending when distillate is passing        the flow regulator.    -   [Embodiment 17] The method of any of embodiments 13-16, wherein        the transmix stream comprises greater than 5%, 10%, 20%, 35%,        50%, or 80% distillate.    -   [Embodiment 18] The method of any of embodiments 13-17, wherein        the transmix stream comprises greater than 50% distillate.    -   [Embodiment 19] The method of any of embodiments 13-18, wherein        the transmix is blended into the gasoline stream at a rate equal        to or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%.    -   [Embodiment 20] The method of any of embodiments 13-19, wherein        the transmix is blended into the gasoline stream at a rate equal        to or greater than 0.5%.    -   [Embodiment 21] The method of any of embodiments 13-20, wherein        the distillate is selected from diesel fuel, marine fuel,        aviation turbine fuel, non-aviation turbine fuel, heating oil,        kerosene, and combinations thereof.    -   [Embodiment 22] The method of any of embodiments 13-21, wherein        the physical property is selected from octane, distillation        temperature, Reid vapor pressure, sulfur concentration, and        combinations thereof    -   [Embodiment 23] The method of any of embodiments 13-22, wherein        the physical property comprises a combination of octane,        distillation temperature, Reid vapor pressure, and sulfur        concentration.    -   [Embodiment 24] The method of any of embodiments 13-23, wherein        said physical property is obtained by generating a spectral        response of said gasoline stream, blended stream, and/or        transmix stream using absorption spectroscopy with a near        infrared analyzer, and comparing said spectral response to a        chemometric dataset specific for said physical property in said        gasoline stream, blended stream, and/or transmix stream.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

1. A system for blending off distillate transmix into a gasoline streamwithout violating a physical property limit on the gasoline comprising:a) a gasoline stream comprising a gasoline flow rate; b) a transmixstream in fluid communication with the gasoline stream comprisingdistillate and a transmix flow rate; c) a blended stream comprising acombination of the transmix stream and the gasoline stream comprising ablended flow rate, a blended value for the physical property, anddistillate; d) an IPU on which is stored the physical property limit,programmed to calculate a ratio or rate at which the transmix stream canbe added to the gasoline stream based on the physical property limit anda measured value for the physical property of the blended stream; e) asampler and a physical property analyzer at a sampling point on theblended stream in electronic communication with the IPU, electronicallyconfigured to withdraw samples from the blended stream, measure thephysical property of the blended stream, and transmit or make accessiblethe measured physical property to the IPU; and f) a flow regulatorinterposed between the transmix and gasoline streams, in electroniccommunication with the IPU, electronically configured to receive oraccess the rate or ratio from the IPU and adjust the transmix flow ratewithout exceeding the rate or ratio.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinthe gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches selected from thegroup consisting of regular finished gasoline, premium finishedgasoline, conventional blendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulatedblendstock for oxygenate blending, premium blendstock for oxygenateblending, reformulated gasoline, and aviation gasoline.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches ofgasoline periodically separated by one or more batches of distillate. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the gasoline stream comprises a pluralityof batches of gasoline periodically separated by one or more batches ofdistillate, further comprising programming that causes blending to ceasewhen distillate is passing the flow regulator.
 5. The system of claim 1,wherein the transmix stream comprises greater than 5%, 10%, 20%, 35%,50%, or 80% distillate.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmixstream comprises greater than 50% distillate.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the transmix is blended into the gasoline stream at a rate equalto or greater than 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the transmix is blended into the gasoline stream at a rate equalto or greater than 0.5%.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein thedistillate is selected from diesel fuel, marine fuel, aviation turbinefuel, non-aviation turbine fuel, heating oil, kerosene, and combinationsthereof.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical property isselected from octane, distillation temperature, Reid vapor pressure,sulfur concentration, and combinations thereof.
 11. The system of claim1, wherein the physical property comprises a combination of octane,distillation temperature, Reid vapor pressure, and sulfur concentration.12. The system of claim 1, wherein said physical property is obtained bygenerating a spectral response of said gasoline stream, blended stream,and/or transmix stream using absorption spectroscopy with a nearinfrared analyzer, and comparing said spectral response to a chemometricdataset specific for said physical property in said gasoline stream,blended stream, and/or transmix stream.
 13. A method for blending offdistillate transmix into a gasoline stream to produce a blended streamwithout violating a pre-determined limit on a physical property on thegasoline stream comprising: a) withdrawing samples periodically from theblended stream, measuring the physical property of the blended stream byan analyzer, and transmitting or making accessible via electroniccommunication the physical property measurement to an IPU; b)calculating on the IPU a ratio or rate at which the distillate transmixcan be added to the gasoline stream based on the physical property limitand the physical property measurement of the blended stream; and c)communicating the ratio or rate to a flow regulator, and adjusting arate of flow of the distillate transmix through the flow regulator intothe gasoline stream without exceeding the rate or ratio.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein the gasoline stream comprises a plurality ofbatches selected from the group consisting of regular finished gasoline,premium finished gasoline, conventional blendstock for oxygenateblending, reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending, premiumblendstock for oxygenate blending, reformulated gasoline, and aviationgasoline.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the gasoline streamcomprises a plurality of batches of gasoline periodically separated byone or more batches of distillate.
 16. The method of claim 13, whereinthe gasoline stream comprises a plurality of batches of gasolineperiodically separated by one or more batches of distillate, furthercomprising ceasing blending when distillate is passing the flowregulator.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmix streamcomprises greater than 5%, 10%, 20%, 35%, 50%, or 80% distillate. 18.The method of claim 13, wherein the transmix stream comprises greaterthan 50% distillate.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the transmix isblended into the gasoline stream at a rate equal to or greater than0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, or 3%.
 20. The method of claim 13, wherein thetransmix is blended into the gasoline stream at a rate equal to orgreater than 0.5%.
 21. The method of claim 13, wherein the distillate isselected from diesel fuel, marine fuel, aviation turbine fuel,non-aviation turbine fuel, heating oil, kerosene, and combinationsthereof.
 22. The method of claim 13, wherein the physical property isselected from octane, distillation temperature, Reid vapor pressure,sulfur concentration, and combinations thereof.
 23. The method of claim13, wherein the physical property comprises a combination of octane,distillation temperature, Reid vapor pressure, and sulfur concentration.24. The method of claim 13, wherein said physical property is obtainedby generating a spectral response of said gasoline stream, blendedstream, and/or transmix stream using absorption spectroscopy with a nearinfrared analyzer, and comparing said spectral response to a chemometricdataset specific for said physical property in said gasoline stream,blended stream, and/or transmix stream.